The agitation-activity interface of people with dementia in long-term care.

The purpose of this study was to examine agitated behaviors of people with dementia relative to time and activity variables. This descriptive study involved a sample of 420 units of 30-minute time periods collected in a long-term care setting. The highest agitation scores occurred during the evening (F = 3.93, p = 0.009). Agitation scores were significantly higher when the same level of activity was sustained for 1.5 hours or longer (p = 0.000). This study suggests that future examination is needed of an intervention to control activity schedules so that there is a balance between sensory-stimulating and sensory-calming activities.